Automotive Technology Archives | MyImprov

Uber’s Self-Driving Cars Are Back

Deborah Lockhart — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 22:01:36 +0000

Earlier this year, self-driving cars were causing a bit of commotion in the public. This year, more than ever, self-driving cars were operable on the streets and becoming a common sight to be held. However, this dreamy futuristic reality came to an abrupt halt when an autonomous Uber car struck a pedestrian crossing the street. Perhaps they could have practiced better defensive driving.

This caused a dramatic uproar among people who were already questioning the presence of self driving vehicles on the roads.

But, just like the Terminator in three different iterations, Uber is back. They’re streamlining their self-driving cars on the streets, and we have the details of what passengers and pedestrian cross walkers can expect. Here’s everything you need to know about Uber’s heroic, or villainous, return.

A Not So Autonomous Update

Uber is releasing their fleet of autonomous cars on the streets with a new stipulation. They are driving manually by a human. It’s a not so autonomous update on the vehicles that are marketed as… autonomous.

Implementing a new safety standard, these cars will be monitored in real time to collect data on the performance of the vehicles. The drivers themselves will be serving as guinea pigs (better known as “test drivers”) during this trial period. The goal of this is to create a new, safer version of the inventive ride-sharing idea.

The drivers will be accompanied by another employee, who are called “mission specialist.” They are responsible for recording data and testing the features that would eventually be used in autonomous driving. Working with the drivers, the team aims to document the on-goings of the vehicle before it turns fully autonomous.

Along with testing the performance parameters of the light and radar detectors in the cars, Uber will be creating new HD maps of the Pittsburgh area with their manual drivers. Uber plans on using Pittsburgh as the hub of its testing ground. Putting as much distance as they can from Arizona.

Where to Find the Vehicles

The vehicles are being rolled out in one specific area. That place is none other than Pennsylvania. More specifically, Pittsburgh. The reasoning behind relaunching the autonomous vehicles in the Keystone state is because Pittsburgh was most heavily affected during layoffs when self-driving cars took over.

Now, the cars are back – but with a manual driver. To influence more job growth in the area, Uber is taking charge and employing drivers to drive the autonomous vehicles in the city. It could be a generous gesture or an act to correct some nasty karma.

Uber’s Autonomous Future

After the fatal crash that occurred in Arizona earlier this month, Uber reported the driver was streaming The Voice while driving the vehicle. The autonomous features of the vehicle failed to find the pedestrian crossing the street, while the driver failed to be paying attention to the street. This combined called for a deadly recipe.

Along with ensuring that their vehicles are performing at optimal capacity, Uber is encouraging trusted drivers to accompany the autonomous cars. Screening responsible drivers who know how to work with self-driving vehicles will be detrimental to the future of Uber. Without drivers who can be trust, Uber might encounter another incident to what happened in Arizona, and, ultimately, set the self-driving vehicle industry back several years.

The future of Uber’s autonomous car endeavors is still uncertain. Over the next year, everyone will be watching whether the company can tame cars that, technically, have a mind of their own.

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Is Buying a New Car Better than Buying Used?

Heather Perl — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 23:42:04 +0000

Every year, there are a ton of new cars on the market. Each company tries to make the best vehicle, competing with each other using exclusive features, the newest technology, and the occasional sales. However, those who have recently graduated Driver’s Ed California are asking, “Can a new car really compete with a used car?”

The Biggest Difference: Price

There’s a story that you may have heard about new cars. People say they lose half their value the moment you’ve driven your new car off the lot. That’s not entirely true, but the car does lose about 10% immediately, and it can lose up to 30% in the first year. That’s not the best investment. However, a used car has already been through that process and costs significantly less. If the car is only a year or two old, it will still have a lot of the newer features, but it may be several thousand dollars less.

Cost of Insurance

While the costs of insurance can be eased by taking a defensive driving class, it’s still one of the biggest expenses of car ownership. A lot of factors go into insurance rates, and one of those factors is the age of the car. If age were the only factor, older cars would cost less to insure. But this can be balanced out by the safety features of newer cars, which can lower the insurance rate.

History of the Vehicle

There are websites out there that can tell you many things about the history of used cars. The sites can tell you whether the car has been in a flood or sometimes even if the first owner was a smoker. However, the sites can’t tell you how the original owner drove it. Maybe the first owner had a tendency to slam on the brakes, or maybe they wore out the clutch on a manual car. Either way, you’d be buying a car with problems that will need to be fixed fairly soon. Another thing those sites can’t tell you is why the owner decided to part with the car. It might have been repossessed, which is unfortunate for the first owner, but at least the car didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe there’s a problem with the air conditioning that you may not notice if you’re buying the car in winter. Maybe the gas mileage isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Buying a new car is one way to get around these potential issues and worries. On the other hand, there could be an issue with a new model of a car, and it could affect every single one. That’s a piece of information no one would know until the problem presented itself.

Thievery

Speaking of worries, there is always the worry of how much other people want to steal your car. Regular levels of car envy are fine. In fact, one of the reasons people buy certain cars are so their friends, loved ones, and even strangers will want the car. The problem is there are always people out there with the ability and resources to actually steal it. If you buy a new car with all the bells and whistles, hopefully one of those extra benefits is an excellent alarm system. A solid wheel lock would also be a solid investment. Unfortunately, no car is ever entirely safe from theft. Even certain used cars are still targets for theft, particularly the very popular cars. Those can be stolen and broken down for parts.

So Which One Is Better?

Ultimately, that choice is up to the buyer. As with many things, it will probably come down to the top argument, the price. Either way, buying a car, new or used, requires extensive research, and a wheel lock is never a bad idea.

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CA Allowing Driverless Cars to Carry Passengers

Deborah Lockhart — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 22:48:32 +0000

If you’ve ever fantasized about your own personal ghost chauffeur driving you to and from work, we got huge news for you. You might be able to live out your delusion – or something close to it – because California is now allowing driverless cars to carry passengers. This means fully autonomous vehicles, without a driver. It’s like a ghost, but it’s a computer instead.

This new regulation is permitting the testing of autonomous vehicles carrying passengers in California. Not everyone is pleased about the news. Some speculate about the dangers looming behind the wheel… or in it. Others are celebrating, because ride sharing companies, who opt to test the autonomous vehicles, will have to offer free rides for passengers. There’s good reason for it, too. Before you ask, no – it’s not because the autonomous cars are students enrolled in the best online traffic school California can offer, and they need to get an A on their passenger driving test.

The Carrying Consumer Catch

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved programs for companies to begin test driving fully autonomous vehicles with passengers. This is a monumental step for the autonomous vehicle industry. However, this innovative opportunity still requires companies to jump through a few extra hoops.

The CPUC declared, “Transportation Charter-Party Carrier (TCP) permit-holders to use test autonomous vehicles to provide passenger service, as long as the TCP permit-holder also holds an ‘Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program Manufacturer’s Testing Permit’ issued by the DMV.” This is a fancy legal way of explaining that companies are required to hold a proper permit for testing their service.

However, if companies wish to use fully autonomous cars, as in no driver present in the vehicle, they must follow alternative requirements. The fully autonomous vehicle will have to be monitored remotely to ensure the safety of the passenger. Basically, people will be riding in a giant RC car.

Along with these provisions, the CPUC noted that companies cannot receive monetary compensation from passengers. All riders taking advantage of the testing service will receive free rides for being subjects in the program. Among a few companies pushing back on these provisions are Waymo, Zoox, and Lyft.

The CPUC is requiring companies to separate the pilot program from the finalized service. Moreover, the free services are to incentive passengers to provide “critical feedback to the Commission and the permit holders.” This is good news for people looking for a cheap ride around town. However, some riders are concerned. If they aren’t paying with their wallets, they might end up paying with their lives.

Last March, an autonomous Uber car struck and killed an Arizona pedestrian. This sparked concerns and speculations surrounding the ethics of self-driving vehicles. When there’s no driver behind the wheel, some people are concerned about the safety of the vehicle and their self. In light of recent events, Uber has restricted the testing of their autonomous car fleet in Arizona.

Another pressing concern is the use of data. California companies are wanting to keep the testing data private. Therefore, any information gathered, such as crash testing to passenger feedback, would be kept in the respective company’s secret data safe. In hindsight, they might keep the data in a piggy bank.

However, the CPUC fought to keep all collected information and data public. Companies see this as a threat as their private information will become public for competitors. The CPUC is making “collision reports, total vehicle miles traveled, miles traveled during passenger service, and the total number of rides accessible to the disability community, among other data” open to the domain.

Now that companies are applying for their permits, we could see autonomous ride testers as early as January of 2019.

[/framed_box]

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CA $768 Million Electric Car Infrastructure

Deborah Lockhart — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 23:01:38 +0000

California is investing $768 million into an electric car infrastructure. This is buzzing news for the electric vehicle (EV) owner, who struggles with charging their cars while on the go. California is sticking to its commitment of being a leading state in the charge for eco-friendliness and renewable energies.

Every great idea comes with the complaints of other ideas. The $768 million electric car infrastructure strategy is no different. A few people have concerns with the new plan and the allocation of funds, which is causing a bit of unrest. Not even the reassurance you get from the best traffic school California can offer will soothe these electrified opinions.

Here’s the Plan

The major players in the electric vehicle infrastructure plan consists of three familiar utilities: Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison. Together, these three utilities are fronting the $768 million to fund the infrastructure that will be built throughout California.

The San Francisco Chronicle stated:

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will spend up to $22.4 million installing the infrastructure for more than 230 direct-current fast-charging stations, which can add 50 to 70 miles of range to a car’s battery in 20 minutes.

The utility will also spend $236.3 million on infrastructure and rebates to support electric trucks, buses and other medium or heavy-duty vehicles… [SCE and PG&E] are expected to help install chargers at more than 1,570 sites, supporting 15,000 medium- or heavy-duty vehicles such as municipal and school buses.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. will provide rebates for as many as 60,000 customers to install home charging stations and offer installation services.

The major target is large, gas guzzling vehicles. The California Public Utility Commission (PUC) declared that 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emission was the result of transportation. Large vehicles that consume gas are now on the chopping block to get a shocking transformation. Literally!

This infrastructure is created to incentives consumers and transportation industries to switch over to electric vehicles. By building the infrastructure, the PUC hopes to spur the next great wave of electric cars on the roads. It would also be nice having less smog in the morning.

However, with all the infrastructure plan heating up, residents are still not sold on the idea.

The People’s Problem

The infrastructure upgrade is leaving EV owners to rejoice in the news. However, some residents think the funds could be allocated better. One resident expressed concerns about the success of investing in EV by stating, “A superior expenditure would be upgrading the standard rail system in California and re-building critical portions of the system for high-speed standard railroad.” While others suggest that funds could be spent on “pav[ing] a lot of streets.” This sounds like the opinions of non-electric vehicle owners.

The concerns for the EV infrastructure has some questioning whether consumers will adapt quickly enough. The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that “the numbers are all trending positively, but likely not positively enough. Policy changes are needed to spur faster electric vehicle adoption.” With the California Public Utility Commission unanimously voting to invest nearly $1 billion into their electric vehicle infrastructure, more states could follow. Especially if this incentivizes more consumers to purchase electric vehicles, causing a higher demand for the infrastructure.

Throughout the world, more and more countries are increasing their usage of electric vehicles. It’s a shocking time for the auto-industry. Slowly, but surely, electric vehicles are finding their trend among businesses and independent consumers.

For information About How to Register a Car in California, click: How to Register a Car in California

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11 Minor Car Brands with Incentives That You’ve Never Heard About

Deborah Lockhart — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 16:27:32 +0000

At one point in your lifetime, you may have come across a vehicle that didn’t look like anything else you’ve seen. There may have been a flashy accessory, a strange contour, or maybe it had an unrecognizable logo. Chances are, that car was produced by a minor car brand.

Minor car brands are the unknowns of the car manufacturing industry, because they produce specialty cars. They may vary from purely electric-based vehicles to neoclassical eye candy. Each come with their incentives, such as tax deduction on electric vehicles or bragging rights with the aesthetics. Below are 11 minor car brands that you didn’t know existed.

Coda

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are this company’s specialty. When they’re not producing batteries, they’re producing car bodies that use these batteries. Coda is known as a minor car brand that produces fuel-efficient cars that run on a powerful battery.

Fisker Automotive

Fisker Automotive doesn’t just sound like a can of tuna that you’d feed your cat. It’s a minor car brand that manufactures luxury hybrid vehicles. If the luxury wasn’t enough incentive, the yearly tax deduction will be.

Panoz

Panoz is the result of a pharmaceutical mogul who decided his financial portfolio needed its own race car manufacturing company. Their most notable car is the Panoz Esperante. This little-known car brand produces sports cars for competitive racing and road cars for competitive bragging.

Green4U

Green4U isn’t just a minor car manufacturer, but an all-around green vehicle producer. They’ve made eco-friendly vehicles for airlines, individual consumers, and even the military. Green4U is manufacturing an electronic vehicle that has substantially lower operating cost than the leading brand. It’s the Great Value brand of electric cars.

VIA Motors

If you’ve seen a GM model car without the GM branding, chances are it’s a VIA motors vehicle. This manufacturer purchases GM cars and refurbishes them to be electric. They pull a quick switcheroo to sell a greener vehicle.

Zimmer

Known as the Golden Spirit of vehicles, Zimmer pushes the production of neoclassical cars. Whenever there’s an old car showcase, you might find a Zimmer model. They make them aesthetically pleasing without the utility of a standard car.

Lucid Motors

Lucid Motors specializes in electric vehicles. Coincidentally, close to 300 employees from Tesla Motors jumped ship to work at Lucid, so you know their cars are electrifying. The reason why there’s so many electric car companies in the state is because they all graduated from a traffic school California.

Faraday Future

Faraday Future isn’t just the name of the next great sci-fi novel. It’s an electric automotive startup that’s taking over the south. This company makes electric sports cars that aren’t just used for sport. They’re used for leisurely driving… at high speeds.

Local Motors

Local Motors makes their cars available to the public in more ways than consumer distribution. All their vehicles are open sourced and available to the public. Some of their vehicles include the autonomous bus or the completely 3D printed car.

Elio Motors

Elio Motors is pushing the boundaries with their innovation. Those boundaries being the line between car and motorcycle. This minor car brand recently released the three-wheeled autocycle. It’s an automobile containing everything you would find in your standard sedan, but without the unnecessary fourth wheel.

Vehicle Production Group

No – Vehicle Production Group isn’t the generic placeholder for a flashy name in the works. It’s the legitimate name of the company. They’re responsible for the design of most mobility vehicles. They’re highly accessible vans and cars are built with a large door and ramp.

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Autonomous Vehicle Day

Deborah Lockhart — Thu, 31 May 2018 17:36:59 +0000

01111001 01100001 01111001! In case you can’t read binary, that’s computer talk for “yay!” The reason why we’re excited about today is because it’s Autonomous Vehicle Day. The one day every year where we celebrate our computer overlords – uhm – drivers. With the rising publicity and manufacturing of autonomous cars, this year was a great stride forward for the industry. The popularity of self-driving vehicles is at an all-time high, thanks to their consumer accessibility.

When there’s a holiday, there’s a celebration. You might not be familiar with the traditions behind Autonomous Vehicle Day, so we’re showing you the best ways to celebrate our robot chauffeurs. Here are the best ways to show your autonomous pride.

Dust the interior of your car

If you have an autonomous car, make sure you dust the interior of it. Dust slows down computers. When it builds up, it can ruin systems no matter how well they’re built. Your autonomous vehicle might be different, but any reason to clean up the filthy interior of your car is a good one. Grab that duster, buster.

Write a “thank you” card in binary

It’s your autonomous car’s day. Therefore, you should tell it how you REALLY feel, with a handwritten card in binary. Your autonomous car can only understand numbers, so use the nearest binary translator to let your heart ooze with feelings.

Take your autonomous vehicle out for dinner

Tonight, treat your self-driving car well with a delicious dinner. For you, a salivating, seared steak dinner with a side of asparagus and fine potatoes. For your car, a quick oil change. That’s the autonomous vehicle equivalent to sautéed salmon.

Buy it a gift

Autonomous vehicles may be computers, but they still like to receive gifts. One present you can provide your car, this year, is something digital to go along with its computations. Since self-driving cars are computers that drive, it might make use of online traffic school.

Learn how to program the concept of love

A task that has plagued scientist, programmers, and ethics theorists is the process of computers comprehending the idea of love. Moreover, you might have expressed your love for your self-driving car without any reciprocal feelings. Learning how to program the concept of love will finally show your autonomous car how you feel.

Print off pictures of autonomous cars to longingly stare at

There’s other ways to celebrate Autonomous Vehicle Day, if you don’t have access to a self-driving car. One way of doing this is to print off pictures of autonomous cars, then daydream which one is your favorite. You can even line your walls with the photos, in case you want people to think you lost your mind.

Buy a Roomba

If you don’t have the funds to purchase one, then buy the next best thing: a Roomba. It’s like a self-driving car, except it’s a small circular computer that cleans your floor. In fact, the best way to celebrate is to do yourself the favor of never cleaning your home again. Your Roomba will also help keep you company!

Spread the word

The easiest way to celebrate Autonomous Vehicle Day is to snap a photo of a self-driving car, then post it to your social media accounts with #AutonomousVehicleDay. That’s the official hashtag being used to celebrate. You should join in with the thousands of people who are partaking in the day. Let everyone know how much you enjoy autonomous vehicles.

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Pros and Cons of Sidewalk Robots in Arizona

Deborah Lockhart — Tue, 22 May 2018 21:21:31 +0000

A wave of sidewalk robots is taking over the streets of Arizona. The idea of these beneficial bots may sound like an unnecessary element out of a science fiction novel, but Arizona may soon become filled to the sidewalks with these autonomous aides. Thanks to legislation from Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona, these robots are being produced for delivering small objects, such as mail and pizza.

The concept of sidewalk robots is met with some controversy. Could these autonomous robots really be beneficial to society? We’re computing this question by listing the pros and cons of sidewalks robots in Arizona.

Pros

The delivery of small items…

…is convenient for everyone. Whether it’s mail or a pleasant pizza, delivery robots will make everyone’s life easier. It’s every perk of having a deliveryman without the human interaction.

Eco-friendliness…

…is guaranteed. The sidewalk robots don’t use fuel, because they’re powered by a battery charge. This makes them a great green substitute to the usual automobile pizza delivery. If you haven’t caught on, this entire pros/cons list is centered around the efficiency of getting pizza to our front door.

You can say robots roam the streets.

Nothing is greater than bragging to your friends about how your city adopted a new robot delivery system. Larger cities might have courier services, with cyclists whizzing by on the streets, but they don’t have large, 200-lb robots cruising at 10-MPH down the sidewalk.

Affordability…

…has an important role in robot acceptance. The cost to pay a delivery person might outweigh the cost to use an autonomous robot. One sidewalk robot will cost upwards to $10,000 and operators will have to maintain insurance liabilities of $100,000. However, owners can make that money back, over time, with the cost efficiency of not paying a delivery man.

You’ll fall in love.

Move over UPS Delivery Man, because Sidewalk Robot is ’a knockin’ at your front door. If you thought the delivery guy was cute, just wait until you lock eyes with these AI. The biggest benefit is looking at these eye candies roaming about outside. Hubba hubber!

Cons

The legislation states that a cargo less robot must weigh less than 100-lbs and weigh no heavier than 200-lbs with cargo. The legislation also issued a speed limit of 10-MPH. If they exceed this speed limit, they might have to enroll in a defensive driving course. [/framed_box]

Unregulated AI could cause problems…

…and not the usual robot uprising problems. Recently, an autonomous car struck and killed a pedestrian. This accident raised concerns for self-driving technologies everywhere. People are concerned that the unregulated AI could cause another devastating incident, like the recent fatal accident or… a missing pizza.

…are a major possibility. It might be challenging for a thief to swoop up a 200-lb robot driving 10-MPH down the sidewalk during broad daylight. However, anything is possible when an expensive piece of technology goes unattended. The only thing worse than a stolen personal delivery robot is a stolen personal pan pizza.[/framed_box]

Job replacement…

…is a major concern. People earn a living from delivering packages. The robot uprising could turn out to be a real scenario. However, instead of mass deaths, it’ll be mass unemployment.

You’ll fall in love.

It’s better to have loved than to never loved at all. As is the case with falling for these robotic hunks. Love hurts. Just as quickly as they came into your life, they’ll leave it… because their code will never understand the human experience.

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Why Flying Cars Are A Horrible Idea

Heather Perl — Mon, 21 May 2018 18:22:54 +0000

Since early 20th century, people have been looking forward to the day that flying cars would be feasible. For years, sci-fi television show’s time travelers knew they arrived into the future when they saw flying cars. Generations of drivers raised on The Jetsons have been waiting for decades for inventors to catch up to their imagination. Now it seems the day has finally come. A flying car, the PAL-V, is up for sale.

However, this may have been a case where people were so busy figuring out if they could that they never bothered to ask if they should. Flying cars are a very dangerous idea, and here are a few reasons why.

Lack of Training

Purchase of a PAL-V flying car costs $399,000 (for the more affordable option), and it comes with flight training. That seems appropriate, since the vehicle more closely resembles a helicopter than a car. But their website is somewhat fuzzy on the training process. The site boasts of beautiful training locations but doesn’t say how many hours are required. There’s no mention of what exactly is covered in the training. All it really says is that the training will be quick and easy.

In contrast, obtaining a driver’s license is neither quick nor easy, but that is to be sure drivers are safe on the road. We shouldn’t be lax on license requirements just because there are less flying cars. After all, there’s no online defensive driving course for flying cars.

Potential For Disaster

A car crash can easily be deadly, but there are also countless little fender-benders every day. Everyone generally walks away from those accidents, but imagine what can happen when those accidents are up in the air. Once gravity becomes an extra factor in collisions, what would be minor accidents on the ground become major accidents in the air. Plus, when that flying car crashes to the ground, there’s a good chance there will be a car underneath it. Unfortunately, most drivers are not prepared to deal with falling debris, which could cause an even bigger catastrophe on the ground.

That is just in the case of two drivers/pilots that have gone through the “training” crashing into each other. There’s also no information on the PAL-V website on what to do in the event of equipment failure. In a car, if a tire blows out or we run out of gas, we pull safely to the shoulder or, at worse, stall on the highway. If something goes wrong in a flying car, there could be people FALLING OUT OF THE SKY.

There are also drones to consider. Never mind the military drones, which are operated by people who have gone through the necessary training. The issue is the drones that can be purchased from a local electronics store for about $100 and operated from cell phones. Will the PAL-V hold up if a drone crashes into it? Will the driver have gone through enough training not to panic if a drone smashes their windshield? These are just issues that can result from accidents. These drones are given out as Christmas gifts. A child might not understand the consequences of intentionally trying to damage a flying car, and disaster could follow.

Ultimately, if the idea of flying cars is ever going to work, we need to have strict regulations. Right now, people are so excited about the technology, but proper rules haven’t been put in place yet. Drivers/pilots need to be given extensive training, and flight paths should be established to keep flying cars at a safe distance from each other. For now, the world seems barely able to handle self-driving cars. Flying cars may be a step too far.

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What Happened to the Bentley Butler Car Concept?

Deborah Lockhart — Mon, 07 May 2018 19:46:17 +0000

Popular media depicts the future of civilization as a utopia providing an online defensive driving course, self-driving cars, advanced computers, and robotic butlers. This kind of technology is too far into the future to be real. Not for Bentley, though.

Bentley Motors is harboring our inevitable, future utopia with their latest concept vehicle. Not only are they making their concept car fully autonomous, but they’re committing to the idea of putting a literal holographic, virtual butler in your car.

The self-driving vehicle is so luxurious, they had to categorize it in the niche group of “ultra-luxury.” The car was scheduled to be released sometime in the next… 20-or-so-years – and that was 2-years ago. By then, we could purchase other car models similar to the Bentley butler concept. The release date is distant, just like the fictional future utopias you see in popular film and television.

Since the release date was announced, there has been little to no information regarding the development process of the vehicle. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t get the hype train started early! Below are other mind-boggling features the Bentley Butler car will offer you. This list should hold you over for the next 18-years.

Voice Command

The voice command system will work in tandem with the Bentley Butler. The navigational directions provided to the butler will be given via voice commands. Bentley Design Director, Stefan Sielaff stated, “People don’t like the idea of just talking to a hidden microphone, we are thinking of how to personalize the next generation communication.” Therefore, buyers should be expecting a personal relationship with their very own holographic, virtual butler.

Display Screens Built into the Wood

As an attempt to blur the lines of your personal car with a futuristic spacecraft, Bentley designs show the concept to have thin display screens built into the wood paneling of the car. These screens are .05mm thick, high resolution, and bendable. That’s right! You can bend the display screens.

Fully Autonomous

Bentley Motors is committing to the idea of the self-driving vehicle. They’re sticking to it so much, they left the steering wheel and brake pedals out of the concept design. The vehicle will be fully autonomous and driven by your very own holographic, virtual butler.

A Complete Private Sphere

Bentley believes luxury involves privacy. Therefore, they’re creating a complete private sphere where the passengers can tune out the rest of the world during their commute. The private sphere will provide the feeling of having your own chauffeur while you relax in the back seat.

Two Comfortable Sofas

To add to the private sphere of the Bentley, they are including two large, comfortable sofas for the ultimate relaxation experience. You read that right. This Bentley Butler concept is providing sofas for your drive. Bentley’s goal is to put 4-wheels on your living room.

Virtual Companion to the Virtual Butler

Whether it’s Siri, Alexa, or Cortana, most people have their very own virtual companion in their pocket or home. Therefore, if your holographic, virtual butler will be driving you around, they’re going to need their very own virtual companion. The virtual companion would help navigate the virtual butler, when communicating with other self-driving cars. Pretty soon, they’ll replace the passengers with virtual people.

Leather or Stone Options

Finally, to target their vegan audiences, Bentley is equipping their vehicles with stone options as a supplement for leather interiors. Sielaff mentioned that, “Bentley intends to offer stone as an interior option in the near future as well as ‘protein leathers and textiles that will appeal to those with a vegan lifestyle.’” Bentley is showing they go above and beyond what is expected of them to bring the idea of “ultra-luxury” to everyone.

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Top 10 Car Gadgets Perfect for Xmas

Deborah Lockhart — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:39:19 +0000

Christmas is right around the corner and if you are looking for the perfect gift for the tech and car lover in your life, then there are a lot of cool car gadgets to choose from this year. These are some of the coolest gadgets you can choose from and your friend or family members will be able to use them all year long.

1. Dash Cam

You do not want to become a victim and when you have a dash cam in your car, you have an extra set of eyes. You would not only be providing a camera to the recipient of this gift, but you would also be providing them safety.

2. Smartphone Holders

Smartphone Holders – You can help your loved one keep their eyes on the road while keeping their phone within reach. With the right holder, they can even mount it to the most ideal place in their car, so they can see what they need while driving.

3. iPad Headrest Mounts

If you know someone who has children, this is the perfect gift. It will allow them to keep their kids occupied on long road trips and on the weekly trips they have to take them to the grocery store or to their latest practice.

4. Radar Detector

If you want to help keep your loved one out of the way of the law, then this is the perfect gift. It can be used while in FL traffic to monitor any police cars that are in the area and help them prevent getting any speeding tickets.

5. In-Dash Car Stereos

You may know someone that does not have a great car stereo. The in-dash car stereos have come a long way and you can now get an awesome car stereo for a car that is just like the ones found in the newer models.

6. Virtual Assistant

Know someone who loves Amazon Alexa or Google Home? Well this is the perfect device for them that works much the same way. They can connect it to their vehicle and then simple ask for things like directions whenever they need it or are lost.

7. USB Car Charger

If you know someone who is always letting their phone die, then a great option for them is a high-powered USB car charger. This is the perfect gift for the tech person who spends a lot of time in their vehicle and needs a lot of phone power.

8. Tracking Device

While this is not necessarily a car gadget, it can be used to make sure that the forgetful person in your life doesn’t ever lose their keys again. All they have to do is put the tracking device on their keys and connect it to their phone.

9. Back-Up Camera

Another great benefit of a newer car is a back-up camera. If you know someone that would love one of these but can’t get a new car just yet, then this is the perfect gift. They will love the benefits they get from this camera.

10. Emergency Escape Tool

This is a great gift for any driver. This tool will allow them to stay safe and get out of the vehicle even in the direst of situations. This is an inexpensive gadget that you could get every driver on your list.

If you are looking to not only have the best tech for your car or for your loved one, you should also consider taking a course from the best comedy defensive driving school, so you can become a safer and better driver.

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